Safety shoe

ABSTRACT

A safety shoe which permits access to the toe and metatarsal regions as required to bandage or dress a wound or injury, and which has metallic arch portions which are mutually supporting when closed and which hinge at the side near the sole. The arch portions preferably abut in closed relation and by relatively slidable parallel extensions so that they can be slightly separated if necessary in use. A strap holds the arch portions together, and this strap preferably extends through a slot in the sole.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,747,239 Green July 24, 1973 SAFETY SHOE [76] Inventor: Rex W. Green, RD. 4, Bethlehem, Pr'mary Emmmer*Alfi-ed Guest 18105 Attorney-Joseph Gray Jackson et al.

[22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 198,647 I A safety shoe wh1ch permits access to the toe and metatarsal regions as required to bandage or dress a wound U-s. 6 R or injury and has metallic arch portions [5 1 u are mutually upporting when closed and hinge Fleld of Search R, AL, at the side near the ole The arch portions preferably 36/2-56 abut in closed relation and by relatively slidable parallel extensions so that they can be slightly separated if References Cited necessary in use. A strap holds the arch portions to- UNITED STATES PATENTS gether, and this strap preferably extends through a slot 3,310,889 3/1967 Samuels 36/72 R in the Sole- 3,325,920 6/19 67 Werner et al. 36/25 AL 3,470,630 10/1969 Wilmanns et al. 36/72 R 8 Clams 4 Drawmg SAFETY SHOE DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a safety shoe or foundry shoe which has special adaptability to treat injuries or wounds in the toe or metatarsal area.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a safety shoe which can be worn with comfort during the healing of injuries of the toe or metatarsals.

A further purpose is to provide a safety shoe which can be worn by a person who is unable to wear an existing shoe having a steel toe because of the fact that his toes or metatarsals are enlarged by swelling or enlarged by the need to keep a dressing or bandage in place or the need to have a splint in place.

A further purpose is to avoid the necessity of cutting out the toe portion of a shoe because of an injury in the toe or metatarsal area or the necessity to wear a shoe having a cut-out toe portion which is so old or worn that it does not give good foot support, for example, because the sole has lost rigidity.

A further purpose is to eliminate the use of bulky, hazardous and poorly accepted types of protection which fit over a shoe such as a Sankey boot.

A further purpose is to produce a comfortable, neat, safe, therapeutic shoe primarily to be worn during the healing period of severe injuries to the toe or metatarsals and also capable or routine wear as a protective safety shoe.

In the drawings I have shown one form of the invention, choosing the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the shoe of the invention with the arch portions closed.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the arch portions open, exposing the toe and metatarsal regions.

FIG. 4 is a section corresponding to FIG. 3 with the arch portions closed in protective position.

When a worker injures his toes or metatarsals, and desires to work while his injury is healing, he must often I go in hazardous areas where he would normally wear a standard type of safety shoe, having a metallic portion over the toe and metatarsal regions to protect against dropping of heavy objects on the foot. During the healing period his foot is more vulnerable to discomfort, pain or further injury.

For example, the toes or metatarsal region may be very sensitive to rubbing or pressure. In many cases he will have to wear a bandage or dressing and may have to change the bandage or dressing or apply treatments to the injured part during the workday. Furthermore, the toe or metatarsal area may be enlarged by reason of swelling, bandages or splints.

At present the injured person is forced to choose a Sankey boot which has a metal shield over the toe area but has no sole or heel or he must adapt existing footwear as by cutting out the toe portion ofa shoe. He will usually choose an old pair of shoes as he must cut out a toe portion and oftentimes a shoe does not give good support to the foot, particularly because the sole has lost its rigidity.

In the shoe of the invention, the entire toe and metatarsal area can be opened, as when putting on the shoe to make sure that the bandages or dressing are in place or rebandaging or redressing the toe or metatarsal area. The two portions or halves of the protecting arch in the toe area open completely but can be buckled closed at any time.

The shoe of the invention does in a sense have a shoe within a shoe. v

Because of the fact that the toe and metatarsal area opens, the foot can be effectively inserted within a shoe having a heavy stiff sole for protection of the injury.

In the shoe of the invention there is an upper 20 which includes a side and back heel portion 22, but is open in the toe and metatarsal area. The shoe has a sole 24, which may preferably be stiff or rigid to provide support and may be injection molded from filled phenolic resin, or may be made of wood, leather, fiber or other material. The sole 24 merges or has superimposed on it a heel 26, suitably a leather, rubber or wooden heel.

Within the sole is a flexible intersole 28 which may extend all the way to the heel and is cemented or otherwise secured at 30 to thesole. The inner sole extends out at both sides in the toe and metatarsal area to form flaps 32 and 34 which when closed cover the toe and metatarsal area and act as a cushion for the metallic arch portion. These flaps when closed make substantially a right angle bend at 36 at the edges of the sole and this comprises a hinge portion for the metallic arch to be described.

The sole may suitably be provided with traction pads 38 if desired. At each side of the inner sole flaps, near the sole, are rivets 40 which secure metallic arch or shield portions 42 and 44 which extend completely over the toe and metatarsal area when closed, and because of the flexibility of the hinge portion at 36, can be swung completely open as shown in FIG. 3.

The metallic arch portion 42 is bent at 46 to form an extension 48 and this extension is covered by the metallic arch portion 44 which has a bend at 50 forming an abutting portion 52 abutting the end 54 of the metallic arch portion 42 and a right angle bend 56, leaving an extension 58 which is parallel to and overlapping the extension 48 from the opposite metallic arch portion 42 when the arch portions are closed.

The metallic arch halves or portions 42 and 44 may be formed of steel or they may be of non-ferrous metal such as bronze as for example when anti-sparking prop erties are desired.

A strap or buckle is secured to the shoe which can close the arch portions of the shoe or can be released to open them. While of course the strap can be sewed or otherwise secured to the sole, it preferably extends through a slot 60 from side to side of the sole in the region of the metatarsals and instep. A strap 62 extends through the'slot 60 and is held closed by a buckle 64 engaging openings 66 in the strap.

Optionally, an instep pad 68 shown in FIG. 1 and omitted in the other figures, such as a sponge rubber pad, is secured to one of the flaps of the inner sole, to prevent rubbing in the instep areas where the strap is likely to be tight. V

It will be evident that the thickness of the pad 68 will be adjusted in various cases to meet the requirements of the injury, and the pad 68 may be supplied in several sizes initially separate from the shoe, allowing the medical personnel or the patient to select the correct pad and cement it in place.

Many people who complain of pressure in the toe and metatarsal area from the usual safety shoe and so refuse to wear the usual safety shoe can wear the shoe of the invention without discomfort.

It will be evident that the extensions on the ends of the metallic arch sections permit the metallic arch sections to be slightly separate if necessary when the shoe is worn and still permit protection since in case of dropping of something on the metallic arch portion, the ends of the metallic arch portions will be in mutually supporting and abutting relationship.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I therefore claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A safety shoe having a sole, a heel and an upper including an open section in the toe and metatarsal area, a metallic arch over the toe and metatarsal area having parts separable from each other longitudinally of the shoe to expose the toe and metatarsal area in an open position and to protect the toe and metatarsal area in closed position, hinging means at the two sides connecting the parts of the metallic arch to the sole and removable means to lock the metallic arch parts in closed position.

2. A safety shoe of claim 1, in which the metallic arch is made of two sections which when closed are in abutting and mutually supporting relation at the middle.

3. A safety shoe of claim 2, in which the two parts of the arch are also in slidable relation at the middle.

4. A safety shoe of claim 3, having a strap and buckle means to hold the parts of the metallic arch together.

5. A safety shoe of claim 4, having a slot in the sole through which the strap means extends from side to side.

6. A safety shoe of claim 5, having inner flaps inside the metallic arch which substantially meet at the center.

7. A safety shoe comprising a sole, a heel connected to the sole, a shoe upper having an open toe and metatarsal area, an inner sole joined to the sole and having side flaps which in one position extend over the toe and metatarsal area, metallic arch halves extending from the side near the sole and abutting one another at the center so that they mutually support one another when closed, and means for securing the side flaps of the inner sole to the metallic arch halves wherein a portion of flaps between the arch halves and the sole provides a hinging means, there being a slot in the region adjacent the metatarsal and instep extending from side to side through the sole and strap and buckle means, the strap extending through the slot and the buckle means in one position holding the arch halves closed over the toe and metatarsal region, whereby the shoe can be opened to expose the toe and metatarsal region as required by therapeutic conditions, and the arch halves can be closed to protect the toe and metatarsal regions.

8. A safety shoe of claim 7, in which one arch half at the middle extends over and is slidable with respect to the other arch half, permitting the arch halves to separate as required by therapeutic conditions. 

1. A safety shoe having a sole, a heel and an upper including an open section in the toe and metatarsal area, a metallic arch over the toe and metatarsal area having parts separable from each other longitudinally of the shoe to expose the toe and metatarsal area in an open position and to protect the toe and metatarsal area in closed position, hinging means at the two sides connecting the parts of the metallic arch to the sole and removable means to lock the metallic arch parts in closed position.
 2. A safety shoe of claim 1, in which the metallic arch is made of two sections which when closed are in abutting and mutually supporting relation at the middle.
 3. A safety shoe of claim 2, in which the two parts of the arch are also in slidable relation at the middle.
 4. A safety shoe of claim 3, having a strap and buckle means to hold the parts of the metallic arch together.
 5. A safety shoe of claim 4, having a slot in the sole through which the strap means extends from side to side.
 6. A safety shoe of claim 5, having inner flaps inside the metallic arch which substantially meet at the center.
 7. A safety shoe comprising a sole, a heel connected to the sole, a shoe upper having an open toe and metatarsal area, an inner sole joined to the sole and having side flaps which in one position extend over the toe and metatarsal area, metallic arch halves extending from the side near the sole and abutting one another at the center so that they mutually support one another when closed, and means for securing the side flaps of the inner sole to the metallic arch halves wherein a portion of flaps between the arch halves and the sole provides a hinging means, there being a slot in the region adjacent the metatarsal and instep extending from side to side through the sole and strap and buckle means, the strap extending through the slot and the buckle means in one position holding the arch halves closed over the toe and metatarsal region, whereby the shoe can be opened to expose the toe and metatarsal region as required by therapeutic conditions, and the arch halves can be closed to protect the toe and metatarsal regions.
 8. A safety shoe of claim 7, in which one arch half at the middle extends over and is slidable with respect to the other arch half, permitting the arch halves to separate as required by therapeutic conditions. 